Page Title

Introduction Text New Goals: 1. Lose 10 pounds by August 13, 2009. 2. Run the Chicago Marathon in October 2009. 3. Stay off the cigarettes! Start Weight (7.5 weeks post quitting cigarettes): 5/13/09 - 160.8 (7 pounds above where I was February 10, 2009) TIME FOR NEW GOALS AGAIN. I'm actually very physically 'fit' internally - I've been consistently working out with long-distance running and Tae Bo since mid-January without any significant breaks (average is 3-6 workouts per week, never less than 2 per week). Before that, I was in half- and full-marathon running training programs continuously since February 2008. Thus, my heart, lungs and legs are doing great. Something else GREAT I did was to quit smoking 7.5 weeks ago (3/22/09). This is the first time I've really quit since I started at the end of December in 2005. So this is a REALLY huge deal! In the last 7.5 weeks, I've steadily gained weight. Have gone from about 155 to 162! This is due in large part to my body trying to adjust to the lack of nicotine and its 'positive' effect on my metabolism (my metabolism has slowed down since quitting; additionally it's VERY difficult to digest food properly and in a timely manner). Thus, I want to refocus my efforts on Spark, especially in this challenging time post-cigarettes. I no longer feel cravings to smoke at all, but I AM really bummed out about the weight gain, despite my continually massive efforts to eat healthily and work out 4-6 days/week. I want to stay positive! I want to drop 10 pounds in the next three months. While 10 pounds might shed more easily for me normally, while my body is getting adjusted to being off nicotine, I keep gaining and losing a couple pounds every couple weeks, regardless, it seems, of what I'm doing with eating and working out. So, I think 10 pounds in three months is about the best I can reasonably do. Once I get down to 150, I'll likely need to really ramp up my eating/working out goals to lose my last 5 pounds (ultimate goal is a muscular/lean 145). I also will no longer be logging my calories on Spark. I have found I use it as a way to not listen to my body (i.e., "Well, I CAN eat more because it's within my calorie range, even though I'm not hungry"). As I have a long history with eating disorders, I think trying to listen to my body rather than focusing on counting calories is the way for me to go. I've been logging calories online for a year and a half. I think I now have a lot of knowledge about what is in what I'm eating, and I want to set myself free in this regard. I will still be logging my physical activity, however, because I am training for a marathon and like keeping track of my progress! ----- 8/10/2008 -- HALF-MARATHON COMPLETED! 2:17:41! Hooray for running! ----- Joined Spark 6/24/08! Milestone #1: 7/4/08 - 2 pound loss in 11 days! Milestone #2: 7/11/2008 - 1.5 more pounds down. Milestone #3: 7/12/2008 - 11 mile run! Milestone #4: 7/21/08 - Total of 5.5 pound loss! Milestone #5: 7/26/08 - 12-mile run! Milestone #6: 8/10/08 - Half-Marathon! Chicago Distance Classic. 2:17:41 time. Hooray! First Half-Marathon in 3 years! Milestone #7: 8/13/08 - Total of 6.9 pound loss! Milestone #8: 8/20/08 - Total of 9 pound loss! Milestons #9?: 10/7/08 - Ten pound loss total. (September was up and down, woops!) Milestone #10: 10/17/08 - Total of 12 pound loss! Milestone #11: 10/22/08 - Total of 12.7 pound loss! ---- Milestone#12 (?): As of January 9, 2009, I began a workout regimen that included Tae Bo and running a minimum of 3 times per week. Often, I worked out 4 days/week. As of April 18, 2009, I have not deviated significantly from this plan for more than 6 days at a time. Milestone #13: end of January 2009: Upped my pace and distance in my half-marathon training program to a 10-minute mile pace! Milestone #14: by February 10 (end of first 30-day detox/health&fitness goal, I'd lost 6 pounds! Milestone #15: QUIT SMOKING ON MARCH 22nd! Milsetone #16: 4/11/09 - VERY STRONG 12 Mile Run! ---- Original Goals (6/24/2008): I want to lose 19 pounds. But! Rather than focus all my energy on weight-loss per se, I'd like to focus on changing my unhealthy attitude about food for good, so I don't keep having the ol' ups and downs. I have a pattern of emotional eating and emotional starving, and I'd like to get out of that FOR GOOD. So my goal for now is to lose 19 pounds, putting me at 145. That is a comfortable, healthy, fit weight for me, and that's what I'm aiming for! I'm here at SparkPeople for community and mutual support! I'm looking forward to reaching my goals and helping others reach theirs! ----- UP AND DOWN, BE GONE! UP-- 2nd grade to 9th grade (1993) -- Steady weight gain; medically obese 1993 - Age 14, 220 lbs, 5'3" 1993 - 1997 - 80 POUNDS DOWN! How? Freshman year in high school, I became a vegetarian, stopped eating fried food, employed portion control, only ate dessert once a week and started walking and then running three or four times a week until I was healthy. June 1997 - SUCCESS! Age 18, 140 lbs, 5'4" (fit, healthy) DOWN -- September 1997 to December 1998 -- 130 (anorexic :( ) UP -- 1999 - 180 (some of the weight gain was healthy, but some was not!) DOWN -- September 2001 - 160 UP -- May 2002 - 175 DOWN -- January 2003 - 150 (hooray! 25 pounds!) DOWN -- January 2004 - 147 UP -- January 2005 -- 165 February 2005 - Joined a marathon training program! May 2005 - First Half-Marathon in Fort Collins, CO! DOWN -- By June 2005 - down to 150 DOWN -- By August 2005 - down to 140 - healthiest, fittest in weight and mind! August 2005 - Second Half-Marathon in Chicago, IL October 2005 - First Full Marathon in Chicago, IL December 2005 - My mother passed away. August 2005 - September 2006 - Stayed steady between 140-145; Still running every week and weekend long distances (important: I was able to maintain a weight for a year! go me!) UP -- December 2006 - 150 (still ok) January 2007 - Entered grad school; stopped running UP -- June 2007 - 165 (15 more pounds! Not ok!) UP -- December 2007 -- 168 January 2008 - Very displeased, decided to start a 'diet' in and keep my cals below 1500/day and drink a lot of water. I lost 12 pounds almost immediately! February 2008 - 156 February 2008 - Joined half-marathon training program! April 2008 - Ran 11 miles one Saturday! (Longest distance since Marathon 2005) May 2008 - Joined Marathon training program! Not running the race, but wanted to do the training! This time, I am a pace leader for a 10:30 min/mile pace group. I lead about 18 awesome women. UP -- June 2007 -- 165 (THANK YOU, ICE CREAM) WITH SPARK: DOWN -- 7/21/08 - 159! DOWN -- 10/7/08 - 155! DOWN -- 10/17/08 - 152.6! DOWN -- 10/22/08 - 151.8! UP: -- 1/9/2009 - 160 :( (post-Italy) DOWN -- 2/10/09 - 153! UP -- 4/16/09 - 159 :( (post-quitting cigarettes) DOWN DOWN DOWN: going for 145

New Goals: -Lose 15 pounds over all, but first lose 10 pounds. -Develop healthier attitude about eating -No bingeing/starving EVEN IN ONE DAY (bingeing on lunch, teeny dinner) -Think good thoughts about my body and feelings -Keep dairy and sugar intake low -Stay quit (off cigarettes!)

No more counting calories. Feel when I'm hungry and full, learn to listen to my body. Run 2 training runs per week and one long run per week (on Saturdays). Do Tae Bo for 40-55 minutes 2 times per week. Do yoga once a week. No bingeing, no matter how bad the cravings get post-quitting cigarettes!. Little to no processed foods. Eat a green vegetable every day. Eat a fruit every day. Eat whole grains! No white bread, white pasta or white rice. As much organic food as possible. Sugar treats only in small amounts.

I live in Chicago, Illinois. I also have immediate family in Hawaii, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey, and I grew up in Rhode Island.

I love distance running, psychology, helping others, the child I nanny and her family, great literature, movies (primarily action or mystery-thriller, but the occasional drama), music (especially live), and improving myself a la kaizen.

Add a Link :RFI. The goal is the journey. My 2005 money-raising, marathon-training website is still an inspiration to me: <link>www.active.com/donations/fundraise_public.cfm?key=KZwick</link>
Save Changes